Damian took his seat on the couch, his eyes fixed on the store owner across from him. The old man flashed a sly, almost malevolent grin, clearly relishing the opportunity to play his manipulative game.
He was well aware of Damian’s affluence and influence. Not to mention he was eager to exploit it to his advantage. However, Damian was no fool; he knew exactly what the old man was up to.
The trick was not to become ensnared in his web, but rather to keep one step ahead and maintain the upper hand at all costs.
“So, you must be Mr. Larry,” Damian speaks.
“Yes, I am,” Larry smiled.
Damian leans on the couch, “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Larry. But let’s cut straight to the point, shall we? I’m Damian, and I heard you’ve been making things complicated with my worker regarding this rental agreement.”
“Ah, yes,” he laughs, a sly glint in his eyes. “My shop is in a prime spot, you know. Lots of tourists and all. So, the deposit is understandably higher.”
“I see,” Damian replied, his gazes sharp and unwavering.
“If that is the case, I’m willing to discuss the deposit and rental price,” he added.
Larry grins, “I figured as much. After all, this is prime real estate.”
“And the rent?” Damian inquires, raising eyebrows.
“As I said, the rent is high because of the location. I suppose you can afford it. After all, you’ve got quite the income,” Larry crosses his arms on his chest and smirks.
“Besides, I bet that bakery shop wouldn’t afford much money. I mean, bakery? Oh my gosh,” he laughs. “I know whoever is running that business wouldn’t afford to pay the rent, so why not? I ask for much first?”
As Larry continued to belittle and mock Damian with his comments about the bakery’s prospects, a tense silence settled over the room. Damian sat there, his expression stoic, but his gaze darkened with anger.
He was acutely aware of his power and position in the mafia world, and yet he chose not to retaliate against the man’s rude remarks. The guards, however, could sense the unease in the air. They knew exactly who Damian was, and his calm demeanour only served to heighten their anxiety.
Damian leaned in closer to Larry, his voice lowering to a dangerous tone. “Let me make one thing clear, Mr. Larry. My wife may be running a bakery, but she has proven herself to be a capable and successful entrepreneur.”
“And I will not tolerate anyone disrespecting her or underestimating her abilities. If you have a problem with the rental arrangement, we can discuss it.”
He gets up and takes strides toward Larry, which makes that man flinch. “But let me tell you this… I don’t tolerate anyone coming to destroy something that makes Melody happy.”
His dark gazes stares right into his. Just facing his intimidating demeanour is enough to affect Larry. He didn’t expect Damian to react this way.
Wife?
He doesn’t even know the woman who wants to rent his store is Damian’s wife. Since when did this tyrant mafia marry!?
“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Damian. I-I didn’t mean it in a bad way,” Larry let out a timid chuckle, his nervousness evident in the way his words stumbled over each other.
He struggled to find the right words, but this discomfort was palpable in the awkward silence that followed.
Damian heaved a sigh. “Let’s make this simple. I’ll buy the store outright instead of renting it from you. That way, I won’t have to endure the sight of your face any longer.”
“W-What?”
“State the price. I don’t care how much you put the price is,” he firmly said.
The car is parked in front of the store. Melody stepped out of the car and shut it. She crosses her arms, looking at Damian, who looks calm.
“So, you are telling me that… the owner of this store let us buy the store instead of rent it?” Melody arches her eyebrows, still suspicious of him.
“Yes. You have been asking that so many times. I’m getting annoyed with it,” Damian rolls his eyes and takes out the keys before walking toward the door.
“It’s just… weird. Because that owner comes out of your office with an expression that he just saw hell in a minute,” she said.
“It’s up to you to believe me or not,” he pushed open the door. “Now, I think you work to do. A lot of work.”
Melody’s face lit up as she stepped inside, her excitement barely contained. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of delight as she surveyed her task ahead. Yet, a single concern lingered in her mind: would she tackle it all alone?
Although she didn’t mind the solitude, having someone to assist her would undoubtedly make the experience even better.
Damian noticed her expression, “Don’t worry. You wouldn’t do this all alone. I call someone that could help you.”
She turns to him with confusion. As he stepped aside, Celestia appeared in her sight. The woman smiled warmly and bowed her head.
“I’m here to help you, ma’am.”
Melody squeals and runs to hug her, “I got a friend, finally!! We can clean and hang out together, right?”
Celestia was stunned by her sudden actions. Slowly, her body becomes relaxed, and she lets Melody hug her. Damian just stands there, holding himself from smiling. He knows that Melody doesn’t have friends.
A girlfriend.
“Yes, ma’am. I love to,” Celestia smiles warmly.
Damian decided to leave Melody with Celestia to handle the cleaning task. He walked out of the store and found himself face-to-face with Matthew and Victor waiting expectantly.
“I didn’t expect you to buy a store for her,” Matthew gives a cheeky smile.
“Don’t even start about it, Mat,” Damian rolls his eyes. “I just fulfil her wish like how the deal is.”
“Hm… I see,” he grins.
Victor handed over the file, “This is all the money we have been using. I list all the stuff we bought that Melody needs.”
Damian takes the file and flips every page. His eyes scanned each word. All the things Victor lists down are useful for Melody. A small smile tugged on his lips. He felt proud that she could do her first task.
“Anyway, can we ask you something?” Matthew inquired.
“And that is?” he replied without looking at him.
Matthew smirks, “You know… we have been hearing some… gossip about Melody screaming.”
“Screaming? Screaming what?” he asks unbothered.
“A maid told me they saw you and Melody come back from a club…. drunk. Then, the guard who on night duty heard noise from your room,” Matthew leans forward with a teasing smile.
Damian’s head whipped toward him. The last thing he wants is for his friend to know what had happened.
“I….”
“Oh come on, Dam. No need to be shy about it,” he nudges Damian slightly.
Victor, who just being silent and watching, could see the tip of Damian’s ears reddened. He looks away and slightly smiles. Matthew keeps teasing their boss, who is just holding himself from beating the shit out of him.
“They heard it loud and clear, mate. The sound of pleasure and bed creaking…” Matthew continues with his tease. “I don’t need you to describe it, but I already can imagine the scene.”
Damian lets out a deep sigh. He pushes his hair backwards, “Fine. We did have sex.”
Matthew’s smile faded. His eyes blinked in stunned while Victor just stood there and didn’t reach much.
“You… did it?”
“Yes. Isn’t that what you want me to say?” Damian arches his eyebrows.
“I… I was just teasing you, but I didn’t expect it to be… true,” he clears his throat.
Victor leans on the car, “It’s an unexpected thing, but if it’s fine with you, then we don’t mind it.”
“Is Melody fine with it? I mean, both of you are drunk,” Matthew sounds worried. “I bet she’s a virgin, and you… take it away from her just like that.”
“Can you not say it that way?” He glares at him.
“I’m just saying.”
Matthew huffs.
“Melody… she didn’t say that she regrets or is frustrated with me about it. But, I can see the sadness and pain in her eyes. She told me she want her first time to be memorable and romantic,” Damian explains.
“I’m sure she didn’t mean that,” Victor pats his shoulder.
“I mean it could be. Every woman wants to have their first time-OWW!!” Before Matthew could finish his sentence, Victor stepped on his feet.
Victor continues, patting Damian’s shoulder, “Don’t think much about it. Instead of thinking about it, how about you talk about it with her?”
“I… I try. It’s just….”
He rubbed his face with his palms hands, “Why is it so hard for me to talk about something serious with her.”
“Because you are scared,” Matthew blurt it out.
“I’m not,” he glares at him.
“Yes, you are,” Matthew smirks.
“Mat, I strongly advise you to shut your mouth, right away,” Damian warns him. His friend just chuckles.
After a short pause, Matthew decides to speak again as he remembers something important, “Did you wear a condom that night?”
Damian’s eyes are wide in shock. He didn’t think of that. Did he wear it? As far as he knew, he was too busy with his needy state and didn’t care about protection. Not to mention, Melody becomes greedy and impatient at that time.
Seeing his expression, Victor and Matthew already got the answers. They exchange looks and shake their slightly with a smile.
“Well, there’s a high chance for Melody to-”
Damian closed Matthew’s mouth before he could finish the sentence, “Don’t even… say that.”
“Matthew is right, Dam,” Victor chimed in.
He grumbles. “She wouldn’t be pregnant. It’s… just one time. It’s not like we do it many times,”
Matthew pulls off his hand, “And what if she is pregnant? You know some women can get pregnant by just one night.”
“How do you know it?” Victor frowns.
“I talk from experience,” he smiles proudly.
Damian and Victor exchange and look back at him. Since when did this guy get a girlfriend or a lover? Matthew notices their silence and looks.
“Before you misjudge me, it’s not me okay? I got experience by looking at people. I got some friends also,” he rolls his eyes.
“Yeah, it’s not that we expect you to do that kind of thing,” Victor smirks.
“Hey! I’m a man!” he glares at him.
“I haven’t seen you with a woman before except Celestia,” Victor grins.
“That… That’s because…”
Victor starts to tease him even more. While they’re bickering, Damian is in his thoughts. He looks at Melody in the shop who giggles with Celestia. Melody… pregnant? He doesn’t even think of that.
Yes, they’re married, but it is all in contract, which… they’re not sure what to do with it. Now, everything is turned upside down.
What if Matthew was right?
What if…
… she did pregnant?